Which one of the following is the example of subsistence farming?

Subsistence farming is an agricultural practice where crops are grown primarily for the farmer's own consumption with little to no surplus for sale [2]. It is broadly categorized into primitive and intensive subsistence agriculture [2]. Shifting cultivation, also known as 'slash and burn' agriculture, is a classic example of primitive subsistence farming [2]. In this method, farmers clear small patches of land using primitive tools and family labor to produce food crops to sustain their families [4]. Once soil fertility declines, they move to a fresh patch, allowing nature to replenish the soil [4]. In contrast, commercial farming focuses on large-scale production for profit [3], while intensive and extensive farming are methods that can be either subsistence or commercial depending on the scale and intent [3]. Organic farming is a specific cultivation technique rather than a primary category of subsistence agriculture.

Sources

1. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Primary Activities > Subsistence Agriculture > p. 25
2. [1] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation > Primitive Subsistence Farming > p. 79
3. [4] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.2 Farming System and Cropping Pattern in India > p. 336
4. [3] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation > Commercial Farming > p. 80